Leaving on a jet plane...

In just a few days I embark on a journey of a lifetime. My best friend and I are packing our daypacks for a Global Exchange Reality Tour of Guatemala. The idea behind the tour is to educate people about how we, both individually and collectively, contribute to global problems and offer participants an opportunity to examine a situation firsthand. While I have studied, read and listened to the effects of development projects and free trade agreements, I want to understand the issues beyond what is communicated by the mass media or college lectures.

During my 2 ½ week travels, I will visit and work with cooperatives providing fair wage employment and a support network to women in some of Latin America's most impoverished communities, many of which survived violent repression duri ng Guatemala's civil war. I am so excited for this opportunity and I can’t wait to come home and write about it. I have so many questions I want to ask these women activists. I will try to communicate through blog posts and pictures the different stories and experiences we encounter together. If you have any questions, please let me know.

While I chose this trip because of my Spanish language background and availability, I wanted to let everyone know about the amazing women’s rights tours coming up in the New Year! Global Exchange’s Afghanistan, India and Venezuela women-focused tours are held on International Women's Day in March 2008, and the South Africa women-focused tour is held in August on South African Women's Day. These educational trips include meetings with women from all sectors of society - labor, government, education, and the arts - as well as opportunities to examine other aspects of these countries' political and social situation. If you are looking for a place to travel, consider taking a tour that changes the world!

Comments

[Rachel Allen]

Wow! What an awesome opportunity, Lani! Can't wait to hear more about your trip when you get back. Safe travels!